AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands booked a 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals Germany in the UEFA Nations League here on Saturday.
With debutants Steven Bergwijn (21) and Denzel Dumfries (22), both from PSV, in the starting line-up, Dutch Ronald Koeman continued to build the future by giving youngsters a chance, with Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong (21) keeping his place and Matthijs de Ligt (19) in defense. Bergwijn and Dumfries showed no stage fright on the right side of the pitch and caused Germany difficulties.
On the other hand Germany had some possibilities through striker Mark Uth after some lackluster Dutch defending but goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen had no problems with the attempts by the German debutant. The home-team came in front in the 30th minute after Ryan Babel headed a corner by Memphis Depay on the cross-bar and Virgil van Dijk headed in the rebound.
The Dutch had more chances with a cross by Dumfries from the right missed by Babel and a header by Depay also missing the target, while Thomas Muller hit the wrong side of the net on behalf of Germany.
In the first part of the second half the Netherlands remained the better team, with Dumfries firing a shot on Neuer and shot by Babel going wide. With the entrance of Leroy Sane for Muller and Julian Draxler for Emre Can the Germans became more dangerous and the pressure on the Dutch rose.
Sane missed a huge chance in the 65th minute, but in de counter attack Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum also wasted good chances. Three minutes from time Depay secured the win for the side of Koeman after a beautiful attack and the Olympique Lyonnais forward also hit the cross-bar minutes later. Wijnaldum made it an emphatic win with the third Dutch goal in injury-time.
It was the first win for the Netherlands on Germany in a competitive match since the 3-1 win over Germany at Euro 1992. The last friendly Dutch win over Germany dated back to 2002 in Gelsenkirchen (3-1).
Moreover, it was the last sign that after years of crisis in Dutch football, missing Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands is on the rise again with a new promising generation. A new beginning. While darker times loom for Germany, the world champion of 2014.
The Netherlands got their first points in Group 1 of League A in the Nations League, after last month's 2-1 defeat against France in Paris. Germany are still without a win after the 0-0 against France in Munich in September. Next up is France-Germany on Tuesday in Paris.
